Little bit nervous about adventuring into the BWCA for 1st time ever! Heard great things about the BWCA just don't want to be unprepared. I realize that this time of early spring can have a wide range of temperatures and weather to deal with so we will need to be prepared.

There will be four of us in group including myself, fairly in shape at 60, along with a well fit 33 year old son along with my 61 year old cousin and his 26 year old son. We are using a complete outfitting with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Will have a tow to America Point and then our adventure begins on a 6 day loop of our choice depending on winds and weather going southerly following Ottertrack, Knife, as far south as Thunder Point and coming back up north on South Knife Arm or visa versa. We would like to venture out into different lakes in between including Hanson, Amoeber, Gijikiki, and Cherry as well but realize there are some challenging portages going into Gijikiki and Cherry but have read well worth going into.

What we would like to do, after our tow to Americas Point, is paddle down to the Little Knife or Amoeber area to set up a base camp. It would then allow us to branch out to explore and fish from that central location for a couple days. This would allow us less weight to carry and portage before pulling up stakes and camp moving and setting up another base camp possibly at Cherry for the the 2nd half of week.

My concern is getting to these remote lakes like Cherry and Gijikiki with limited camps and nothing available when we arrive. Because our entry into the BWCA is on a Sunday, May 29th with Memorial Day on Monday, what would be the best advice for us from any of you that are experienced this time of year for a good base camp location considering how far we can paddle and portage the 1st day from America Point?? Are other parties more likely to be vacating there camp sites on Sunday and Monday from the Memorial Day weekend? Any bit of advice on base camping as well as any good information on 1st timer packing for essentials would be appreciated!

It always a guessing game when trying to determine campsite availability - especially on a holiday weekend. Ideally, your idea of Amoeber &/or Cherry are good centrally located lakes with above average sites are certainly lakes to try for.

The 4 southern sites on Ester are quite nice, most of the sites on Hanson are not quite the same caliber but, are serviceable. Rabbitt lake also has a couple fallback sites. Gijikiki is a tough lake to access so, that will likely dissuade many. Unfortunately, the campsites are not visible from the landing so, at the very least, you may need to portage a canoe up to insure availability. But, it is a breathtaking lake. Both figuratively & literally. :)

If you haven't seen it already? Here is my trip report to that area from a couple of years back. Hanging out north of the South Arm Perhaps it will give you a taste of that area.

Prepare for bugs. Late May-early June is primetime for black flies and mosquitoes. Head net and DEET are must haves (at a minimum). Camp on a point, or with good wind flow is essential and avoid low standing sites with stagnant water nearby.

A bug whacker for each tent is advised this time of the year. Bag it sep[arately as moisture is fatal to them based on my experience.

We did a similar paddle last year, kinda. Doing it again this year. Tow to American with a base camp on SAK. I was very surprised on the amount of campsites already taken on the Thursday before memorial day weekend. I'd be nervous betting it all on a lake with only a few sites. We headed home on memorial day, and there were LOTS of people headed in the opposite direction.

We saw mid 20s for temps, and almost no bugs. Who knows what it will be like this year.

jlw034: "We saw mid 20s for temps, and almost no bugs. Who knows what it will be like this year."

Just to clarify, you mean 20C, as in a little below 70F?

plander: "Prepare for bugs. Late May-early June is primetime for black flies and mosquitoes. Head net and DEET are must haves (at a minimum). Camp on a point, or with good wind flow is essential and avoid low standing sites with stagnant water nearby. "

As a message to the OP, there are differing opinions on what types and how much anti-bug stuff you should bring. Many people do as plander writes, bringing a head net and powerful bug spray (DEET-based).

My wife and I wear long pants, long sleeves, and bug nets over our hats and do not use any bug spray at all. This also allows us to limit our sunscreen to just our hands and face. We own a tarp with attached bug netting (the Nemo Bug Out) which we use if the bugs are particularly bad.

We have done the short sleeves, short pants, lots of sunscreen, lots of bug spray approach in the past and by the end of the day you just feel disgusting covered with a slime of combined sunscreen, bug spray, and sweat.

Best of luck with your trip! Come back to this thread and let us know how it turns out.

"Any bit of advice on base camping as well as any good information on 1st timer packing for essentials would be appreciated!"

Well, Kyle, that can cover a lot of ground. A lot of different people do different trips for different reasons, so advice varies. I don't know you, you experience, preferences, etc. and you don't know me. I have only rented canoes and packs from outfitters.

I will probably tell you stuff you already know, but . . .

I'm pretty sure jlw meant Fahrenheit as in below freezing. I usually go at the other end of the season, but weather can be highly variable then too. I started some years ago looking up the average weather for my time period. Not too hard to pack for that, but the record lows are another story - make sure you have enough layers of appropriate clothing. Make sure you have good rain gear - jacket and pants.

Like Kendis my clothes are the first layer of protection against sun and insects. If your clothing is not already insect shield, you'll want to treat with permethrin. Plenty of info on that here and on the web - try sectionhiker.com for one. Cotton is a sponge that soaks up water and holds on to it, which turns it into a refrigerator. Nylon, poly, fleece, merino is your friend. And a good rain jacket and pants - not a cheap poncho. I take base layers, quick dry nylon shirt and pants, 2 pair underwear, 3 pair socks - daytime/travel, camp, and sleep. I keep a dedicated dry base layer, socks, beanie for sleep in a waterproof compression sack with my sleeping bag. I prefer boots for travel, old running/hiking shoes for camp. You may want paddling gloves. Buffs (insect/sun shield) are worth their weight in gold.

Be aware of what they provide and don't provide. Make sure you get everything that's supposed to be there and know how to use it.

They provide one map. You may want to purchase at least one more. I always take a spare paddle, even if I have to rent one. None of the canoes I rented came with painters which you'll need to tie up your canoes so bring some appropriate cordage.

You'll need to provide a first aid kit and repair kit. There's lots of discussion of those here. You'll need water filtration and water bottles. I prefer a gravity filtration set up and I take a Sawyer Water Filter Bottle instead of the pump and 2 1-liter (4lbs. of water) Nalgenes.

I don't take fishing gear, cards/games, camp chair, solar shower, hammock, ax/hatchet, shovel(?), cooler, nor much of a kitchen (but you'll be doing different food).

Packing:

Use a checklist!

There will be one on the outfitter's website. Add, subtract, change it to suit yourself. Mine has expanded over the years to be more detailed. Make sure everyone has a checklist, you bring everything you need, and you don't unnecessarily duplicate things.

TB (Tuscarora Borealis) has given you a good rundown. Reading different trip reports will give you lots of good information and perspectives. You can access them by clicking on the Entry Point (EP) under "Maps & Entry Points" at the top.

Have a good trip!

Kendis: "

jlw034: "We saw mid 20s for temps, and almost no bugs. Who knows what it will be like this year."

Just to clarify, you mean 20C, as in a little below 70F?"

Nope. Radio forecast was a low of around 28F if I remember right, and judging by the ice/frost covering stuff the next morning it was at least that if not lower. We had highs in the 50-60F, and with dry weather it was a wonderful trip.

jlw034: "

Kendis: "

jlw034: "We saw mid 20s for temps, and almost no bugs. Who knows what it will be like this year."

Just to clarify, you mean 20C, as in a little below 70F?"

Nope. Radio forecast was a low of around 28F if I remember right, and judging by the ice/frost covering stuff the next morning it was at least that if not lower. We had highs in the 50-60F, and with dry weather it was a wonderful trip."

Sounds nice! I was there mid-May last year and there was a mini heat wave with highs in the 80s, lows in the 50s.

Sag is a big lake. You're on the right track with keeping your direction in after American Point flexible. If there appears to be any amount of wind/waves early you may want to see if they do a drop down near Red Rock. We used them a few years ago at the same time of year (Sunday entry before Memorial Day) and groups just kept getting dropped at American Point and nobody could paddle Eastward due to wind/waves. All but 1 of the sites were full there and we made due on an island South of there protected somewhat by the Eastern shore.

With that said, we pushed on toward Hanson and sites were mostly occupied until Hanson (we were a 4 person group too). The island sites on Esther looked nice and have a sandbar on the East side. Avoid Hanson site 327. No walleye in Hanson either.

You'll be carrying pretty good sized packs if fully outfitted so plan on double portages and try to get off the water in the early afternoon. We usually avoid stopping for lunch and make it happen at the site we find. You'll find a good site so long as you aren't paddling until 5pm. Bring some walkie talkies if you're trying to scope multiple sites on a lake.

What a cool trip! It's great you get to enjoy it with your family!

There has been lots of good advice from very experienced folks on here. I don't think I can add very much expertise that hasn't already been said. Perhaps simply decide how you want to document the memories you create - camera, video, journal, combination, etc. A few years ago before my grandpa and grandma passed away, my dad and I went on a trip. My grandparents really appreciated the photos I printed and sent them - you know, the old-fashioned 4x6 prints! When I visited them we went through the 50 or so photos and shared our stories.

Anyway, enjoy the preparations and have an awesome adventure!

You don't say much about your experience. Have you handled a canoe in big wind and waves before? How much camping & portaging have you done? Have you discussed your route with the outfitters? I have written about Gijikiki several times on this forum, but would second some of the comments. It is a neat lake but hard to get to. If you have never been to the BWCA before I would not advise your going that way. I am a bit surprised your outfitter suggested this route. American Point can be like Grand Central station if you hit it wrong. The waves on Sag can bench the most experienced paddler if they blow right.

Unless you are very experienced, I would plan for a short and long loop. Make camp the first night and talk about it over dinner. Weary arms and backs might opt for less travel and more time to fish and relax. A nice way to go is a short loop spending two nights at each stop.

I am going to SAK on May 12 and again on May 29. Fishing is huge forme so I have evolved into a base camper. We always take a full day loop trip with just supplies for the day. You can travel very fast in a light canoe. This way we can choose a good day for our long day trip and stay a little closer to camp when the weather is in doubt. I don't mind rain on my way out, but I try to avoid setting up camp in the rain.

Sites on SAK have been hard to come by the last few May trips. Maybe permit reductions will help with that too this year.

I've crossed sag at least 50 different times, 100 if you count both directions. There have been 3 times that we couldn't go west around the point, and at least 2 others that we shouldn't have tried. My best advice is get out early. The wind generally gets more intense as the day moves on. With the worst in the afternoon. You should try to be off the big portion of the lake and down into the bays by 10 am, to avoid the worst of it. We like to get on the water by 7 am, and be to Am Point before 8 (we use motorized alumacrafts). Prevailing winds tend to have a westerly component, and they funnel down out of Cache bay, and can make that stretch a little sketchy sometimes. Once you get into the bays, you won't have any trouble.

We stay the night before in a bunkhouse, and get up at 5 am, so we can get an early start and take advantage of calm seas. Occasionally you'll run into wind in the early morning, but most of the time it's better in the early morning.

jlw034: "

Kendis: "

jlw034: "We saw mid 20s for temps, and almost no bugs. Who knows what it will be like this year."

Just to clarify, you mean 20C, as in a little below 70F?"

Nope. Radio forecast was a low of around 28F if I remember right, and judging by the ice/frost covering stuff the next morning it was at least that if not lower. We had highs in the 50-60F, and with dry weather it was a wonderful trip."

Same: below freezing latter part of the week with some nasty wind and rain in the middle on Horseshoe the week of Memorial Day. But beautiful days as well and a great trip.